Akhil Gogoi writes to Assam CM; additional forces deployed in Kheroni
Guwahati: Additional security forces were deployed in Kheroni on Wednesday morning as the violence-hit Karbi Anglong district in Assam remained calm but tense, a day after two people were killed and 45 injured, including 38 police personnel.
Kheroni is a village located in Donka subdivision of Karbi Anglong district in Assam. Diphu and Donka are the district & sub-district headquarters of Kheroni village respectively.
Amid the escalation, Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi formally wrote to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, urging immediate intervention to prevent further ethnic unrest and restore law and order in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) areas.
Fresh violence had erupted on December 23 in Kheroni Bazaar following clashes between two groups of protesters over demands for eviction of alleged encroachers from tribal belt, Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) lands. The unrest quickly spiralled into arson, stone-pelting and attacks on security forces, prompting the administration to impose prohibitory orders, night curfew and suspend internet services.
In his letter to the Chief Minister, Akhil Gogoi said visuals of large-scale violence, including the torching of the residence of KAAC Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang, had shocked and disappointed him. He warned that the situation posed a high risk of ethnic clashes and urged immediate, firm action to rein in the deteriorating law-and-order situation, stressing that authorities must restore peace “at any cost” to protect lives and property in the autonomous districts.
According to official confirmation, two persons lost their lives in the violence.
Authorities identified one of the deceased as Suresh Dey (25), a specially abled youth, after recovering his body from a building agitators allegedly torched. Rival groups killed the second victim, Athik Timung, during clashes.
At least 45 people sustained injuries, including 38 police personnel, among whom were several senior officers.
Assam Director General of Police Harmeet Singh said the situation escalated rapidly despite assurances from protesters. “They are hurling bombs, shooting arrows and burning down shops. Thirty-eight police personnel, including IPS officers, were injured. A stone also hit my shoulder,” Singh told reporters, warning that stern action would follow if violence continued.
Despite prohibitory orders, large crowds, including traders whose shops agitators had allegedly burnt earlier, gathered in the Kheroni market area on Tuesday, demanding the eviction of encroachers.
Stone-pelting reportedly began from both sides, injuring protesters, police personnel and media persons, forcing security forces to resort to lathi-charge and tear gas.
Various organisations have long demanded the eviction of encroachers from PGR and VGR lands in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong, fueling the agitation. Protesters ended their hunger strike after senior minister Ranoj Pegu assured them that tripartite discussions would take place.
However, tensions reignited amid rumours, mistrust and unresolved legal hurdles, including a Gauhati High Court interim order that had stayed eviction drives last year.
As of Wednesday morning, Kheroni remained under heavy security cover, with authorities maintaining that the situation is under control but sensitive. Akhil Gogoi’s intervention has added political weight to calls for urgent de-escalation, as the state government faces mounting pressure to balance tribal land rights, legal processes and immediate peace in one of Assam’s most volatile regions.